A/N: Still garbage lol. Thanks for following tho. I uploat new chapters every wednesday/thursday

Chapter 2: Penpalmanship

James and Sirius were sitting in the common room. They were still quiet, due to it being early morning. They were already dressed in their robes and ready for their classes to start. However, there were still three hours until classes started. They heard footsteps, and looked from where the sound was coming from. It was Lily. The love of James's life. He smiled. The three of them walked down to the lake, quiet. They didn't want to attract attention or disturb any of the paintings.

Since their first year at Hogwarts, James and Sirius had been on a mission to capture the giant squid. Every year since their first year, they have failed. It had been a disappointing realization to them that they only had a couple more chances left. This is their sixth year, meaning next year will be their last chance. They had to make it count.

Lily had ran into them first year on their adventure. She had been trying to get to her classes early. When James and Sirius ran into her in the hallway, they invited her down, and she watched. She had joined them every year on their mission since. It had become their tradition.

As they approached the lake, Lily spoke the usual question, "What's the plan this year, boys?"

Sirius began removing his shoes and explained their plan to her.

"We were thinking we came closest fourth year, when we swan out to try and catch him."

"But there were two of us swimming, so the squid got distracted," James continued with the explanation. He was leaning on his broomstick. That was the vital utensil in this plan.

"It's just going to be me swimming out. Prongs will fly over head, make sure I don't drown."

"I'll stun him when he shows himself."

Lily was smiling. James could tell she didn't think the plan would work. If James was being honest, he didn't think the plan would work either. But he was a man of tradition. James hoped one day that he would have children who would carry on the tradition of swimming out to try to capture the giant squid.

"Sounds like it might work this year," Lily said with a smile.

Sirius was down to his boxers now and began wading in the water. His skin was already turning purpled from the temperature. James and Lily watched from the shore, quiet. James realized, if it hadn't been for a naked Sirius, this would be quite romantic. Sirius looked back at the two of them and gave a thumbs up. It wasn't reassuring, but they both returned the gesture. Finally, Sirius dipped under water, and Lily spoke.

"This was a terrible idea," is all she said.

James laughed, "it always is."

He mounted his broom, and took off, to make sure that Sirius didn't die on the first day back to classes.

Two hours later, they were tracking mud through the entrance hall. Lily was cleaning up after them to avoid Filch, the caretaker. She wanted to avoid detention on the first day back. Once they reached the Great hall, Lily abandoned the boys for breakfast with the girls. James and Sirius approached Remus and Peter. They were just as disappointed to hear that once again, their plan to capture the giant squid failed. Remus was eating eggs on toast, and Peter was nervously scribbling on a piece of parchment.

"What his problem?" Sirius asked.

Sirius sat down across from Remus and helped himself to toast. James sat beside Sirius. James looked over at what Peter was doing. It was his unfinished transfiguration homework from summer break. The one Sirius had said they'd help him with. That's when James realized.

"We have transfiguration first, don't we?"

Remus slid their schedules across the table at them. Sirius and James picked them up. Their first class of the year was going to be transfiguration. James, who excelled at transfiguration, did not mind this. But he did pity his friend Peter, who did not excel.

"We've still got forty five minutes, Peter," James offered. Sirius looked at James, skeptical, "Let's go to the library and I'll help you out."

Peter gathered his parchment and quill without saying a word. James grabbed the forgotten ink bottle. They walked toward the library. Although James was disappointed he wouldn't get to eat breakfast, helping out his friend was the better way to spend his morning.

They sat at a table near the entrance of the library. Madame Pince, the librarian, was suspicious of them, and wouldn't let them go further. James said once, when he was in his first year, that he'd rather be caught dead, than studying in the library. The librarian never forgave him for that. This, combined with the fact that they hadn't even been to class yet, resulted in the librarian being suspicious of them.

As James assisted Peter, he got to thinking about what Lily had said on the train. She had said her mother enjoyed the letters he had sent her. Just the thought of it made him blush and fidget. He had sent those to Lily, for her to see, and nobody else. He needed to do something about it. And so, he pulled out a piece of parchment and his quill, and began to write.

Dear Mrs. Evans,

Lily has informed me that she shared with you the letters I wrote to her over the summer. On behalf of my younger self, I would like to apologize for things I may have said. I am a more mature man now, and I hope that the crimes of my youth do not influence your current opinion of me. I hope you're feeling well.

Sincerely,
James E. Potter.

James stood up suddenly. This startled Peter, and nearly caused him to spill ink all over his essay.

"I'm going to the owelry."

"Class starts in two minutes."

"Cover for me?"

Peter nodded, "Marauders honor."

James headed for the owelry. He would have made it to class on time if he hadn't been stopped by Remus and Sirius. They had informed him of what he had already known, that he was going in the wrong direction for class. When he informed them of where he was going instead, Sirius said he was going to go with him.

"You're going to be late for class!" Remus shouted after them.

"Cover for us!" Sirius had called back.

They heard him mutter what maybe sounded like, "Marauders honor," with a, "my ass," tagged to the end of it.

Up in the owelry, James took his time. He needed to decide on the prettiest owl to use to send this Very Important Letter. To his dismay, his own personal owl was already sent home with a list of things he and Sirius had forgotten. He hoped that one of the school owls would be satisfactory.

"I hoped I don't choose one that gets lost," James thought out loud. He was nervous, and had let it show.

"What is this letter about? Did you forget your underpants?" Sirius taunted. He pet a brown owl that was missing half it's feathers.

"No… it's to Lily's mother."

"Why are you writing to Lily's mother?" Sirius's tone was accusatory.

Even if James would try to explain... His tongue would get tied. And once he found the words, Sirius wouldn't be interested anymore. He would have found a different subject to talk about anyways. Sirius just didn't understand, he never had. Since first year, Sirius agreed that Lily was pretty. (Which got him a punch to the face) (Which got James a detention) But Sirius didn't trust the company she kept. James was willing to look past that.

"Lily read the letters I wrote to her to her mother," James said as he tied the letter to a chocolate brown bird. "I'm apologizing for anything that maybe offended her."

Sirius was still skeptical. James knew this. Thankfully, Sirius dropped the subject. James let the owl free, then he and Sirius finally headed to class.

"You're late." Was the first thing McGonagall said to them when they walked in.

They took their usual seats with Remus and Peter.

"I would take points from Gryffindor, but seeing as there are no points to take…"

"Sorry professor," the boys said together.

They learned long ago that excuses mean nothing to McGonagall. Especially when they were as lame as 'I was sending a letter'.

"Now that the whole class is here," McGonagall addressed everybody. "I will collect your essays-" Peter whimpered, "Mr. Pettigrew, why is your ink still wet?"

Peter attempted to stutter out an answer, but McGonagall cut him off. She would rather not know.

And so, the first week back to school proceeded. As sixth years, things were the same, but they felt different. There was an air that things were different this year. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter attended all their classes and enjoyed delicious meals together. At night, they all helped Peter with homework. The package from James's parents arrived. It included all the items they had sent to James's mother, as well as 2 history of magic books. Just in time to write an essay. The year was off to a great start.

Saturday morning, James had been surprised to receive an owl. He had been lying in bed when he heard an incessant pecking at the window. The chocolate brown owl he had sent to Mrs. Evans flew in and rested on the edge of Peter's bed. Lucky for Peter, he slept like a rock and heard nothing.

James untied the letter that was tied to the foot of the owl. It was written on a thin white paper, rather than the thick parchment James was used to. His name was written in a shaky cursive on the outside of the letter. He opened it. The bird flew back out the window and James sat down and read:

Dear James,

It was lovely to hear from you again. I had grown to look forward to your letters over the summer. You truly have a way with words.

I am glad to hear you have matured so much in so little time. Maybe I'll finally be able to see Lily admit you aren't as bad as she and Severus once insisted.

Due to my sickness, I must end this letter now. Don't be a stranger.

James read the letter twice. He then tucked it under his pillow and went down to the common room, still in his pajamas. He saw Sirius and Remus huddled over the weekend edition of the daily prophet. They were working on the crossword puzzle together. James sat down in a chair across from them and said nothing about the letter to either of them.